SARASOTA, Fla. – Jay Bruce opted out on March 25.
But the Yankees outfielder / first baseman turned in another effort Saturday night with no decision at all.
Adding to his case to make the Yankees’ 26-man roster, Bruce further provided evidence that he was healthy when he made a sliding catch on a run to left field during a 2–1 loss to the Ooles at Ed Smith Stadium.
“I take great pride in my defense,” Bruce said. “I feel great. My body feels very good physically. I’m in a good place.”
As for the opt-out in his contract, Bruce said the decision was not entirely for him.
“I’m the wrong person to ask when to do it or not, it’s a difficult decision,” Bruce said. “I really don’t have control over that. I know that I came physically ready for spring training. I think I have shown that I am capable of handling many positions. My swing feels good.
“Then we’ll see in five days. I do not know. I am eager to explore it. My goal is to continue to prepare for the season and I hope to help the club. “
Giancarlo Stanton’s return to the outfield will not come in spring training. Yankees manager Aaron Boone opened the door to some action in the outfield this season last month, but Stanton said on Saturday that it was not going to happen before the team broke camp.
“During the season, that’s the plan,” Stanton said. “But as the discussion went on, Boonie and I talked about how I would be needed later, in the first month or two. So it is not important to be prepared to go this season now, in a couple of weeks.
Stanton said that if he was not going to play there in the regular season out of the gates, then playing action in the outfield would not be of much benefit this spring.
“If I go there now and don’t go out for three or four weeks, this is what I’m ready to practice,” Stanton said. “So it is thought for that.”
Mike King allowed six runs to be scored in the four innings he started Saturday, saying that his goal this season is to pitch 100 innings with the Yankees – no matter how they are.
“I don’t care where they are, whether they start, piggyback, long relief, whatever,” King said. “But I think if I can contribute 100 solid innings for this team, I think it will be very beneficial for this season.”
Clint Frazier was originally scheduled to travel and play in Saturday’s game, but the Yankees held him back in Tampa. The left fielder tweeted that he was “fine.”
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